H.L. Art Jewelers unveils new look on improved city block

Apr. 30, 2013

Soni Wollins stops in to visit H.L. Art Jewelers, which has unveiled a new facade. Wollins' late husband, Fred, owned the business until selling it to the current owners. / Sara C. Tobias / The Advocate

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Advocate Reporter

The recently-completed improvements include a rounded canopy with the business’ name on it and a railing above, showcasing the 77-year-old downtown business at 20 N. Park Place.

CS Construction Group, of Newark, started the work Jan. 15 and completed it this past week. The large plywood barrier present during construction has been removed, revealing the updated cornices and trimming, columns and showcase windows.

“It came out every bit of what we hoped, if not more,” said Steve Ehret, store manager and part owner. “It’s pretty stunning.

“Every customer coming in tells us how nice it looks, and thanks us for doing it.”

Soni Wollins, whose late husband, Fred Wollins, owned the business for many years, stopped by the business Monday.

“I think they did a great job,” Wollins said. “The railing just sets it off. It was overdue. It needed a face-lift.”

Delivery trucks had hit the old balcony of the building on a couple occasions, leading the owners to make improvements.

The interior of the store was renovated about five years ago.

Fred Wollins sold the business several years ago to five key employees, Soni Wollins said. The owners are Ehret, Debbie Crouch, Ruth Ann Gallowitz, Marcy Stickdorn and Rusty Hess.

The improvements to H.L. Art Jewelers are maybe the most noticeable, but certainly not the only one on North Park Place.

The resurgent city block has been the place for new businesses and new looks in recent years.

“North Park Place is looking pretty good right now, and really the whole downtown area,” Ehret said. “We have to do this for our customers. We’re here to serve them, and show them we have support downtown.”

Simply Rising Cafe and Linnet’s Flowers opened a year ago. Cornell Clothing restored part of its exterior to a Civil War look, with a railing on its balcony, in September 2011.

The Midland Theatre, the big entertainment attraction on the block since it reopened 11 years ago, added a digital marquee in 2011.

Robin Pierce, owner of Cornell Clothing, located across the alley from H.L., said it’s great what his neighbor has done.

“I like it very much,” Pierce said. “It adds a lot. The windows look nice and I like the balcony. Just about everybody on this side (of the street) has done something.

“We’re still going to do the other side (of the exterior). It depends on the economy.”